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"As long as my family got out every other thing can be replaced. As long as my family is safe that's all I care about," said James Houston, whose home was severely damaged in the blaze.

Neighbors reported seeing transients going in and out of the abandoned houses. It's unclear what started the fire but investigators are trying to determine if squatters might have caused the blaze. The fire chief said property owners should make sure that unoccupied houses are secure.

"Unfortunately, this is another situation where a property owner was not taking of the property," New Orleans Fire Chief Tim McConnell said.

"Now it's burned and caused damage to another home people were living in."

Witnesses at the scene told WDSU that the fire involved several homes. Two homes, which the New Orleans Fire Department said were abandoned, were destroyed in the blaze. All that was left of one house were the steps and its porch.